Ancient China4000 BC-478 BC


China Proper was the center of civilization in Ancient China. The Huang He (Yellow) River played a huge role in where civilization was. The Chinese Civilization started in 4000 BC. During the Middle Kingdom, the Chinese called their land the center of the world. They called foreigners who couldn't speak Chinese Barbarians. During the Imperial Age, the questionably first Chinese dynasty was the Xia Dynasty.There were many Chinese myths such as Pan Ku (first man), Yu the Great (Hero-king who tamed the Yellow River), and Hero-kings (invented marriage, music, and wheel). The Shang Dynasty was the first historical dynasty. During this dynasty, kings had absolute power. An aristocracy is the upper class wealth based on land, and passed on to the family. Anyang was the Shang capitol city. Wu Ding was the greatest Shang King. Wu Ding's wife, Fu Hao, was the greatest Shang general. Bronzemaking, Yoke, and the Lunar Calendar were Shang achievements.

The Zhou Dynasty was the longest dynasty in Chinese history. Wu Wang was the Martial King who defeated the Shang King. Xian was the Zhou capital city. The mandate of heaven is when the power to rule comes from the gods. The Dragon is the symbol of Chinese leaders. Confucious lived during this dynasty and the government was based on his teachings. The development of the Chou dynasty was based on a fuedal system where the king granted land, the lords owned the land, and the peasants worked the land. Iron was the most important development. Jade was the lind between the gods and humanity. It was more precious than gold. The Grand Canal links the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. The Period of Warring States was when seven feudal lords battled for control from 403 BC to 221 BC. The Art of War was a book on military strategy.This also led to the Dynastic Cycle.

The Qin Dynasty lasted 221 BC-207 BC. Qin Shih Huang Ti was the first emperor of China and also unified China. The name China comes from this dynasty. This is when the Great Wall of China was built. This is also when the Terra Cotta Army was created. The censorate were inspectors checking up on government officials. The Han Dynasty lasted from 202 BC to 220 AD. Liu Pang led the revolt against the Chin Dynasty. Han Wudi conquered Korea, Manchuria, and Vietnam. He also stopped invading Huns. The Trung Sisters led the revolt against Chinese in Vietnam. The developments of the Han Dynasty included civil service, leveling, paper, the Rudder, and the Silk Road.

Quote by Chung Kuo: "China is a sea which salts all rivers that run into it."

View Four Great Inventions of ancient China and over 3,000,000 other topics on Qwiki.


Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China


ancient_china.png
Map that shows the dynasties


Heiroglyphics
Heiroglyphics

ancient_china_2.png

Flag
Flag


5 Key People:
1. Confucious-major Chinese philosopher who lived in the Zhou Dynasty
2. Yu the Great-introduced irrigation and flood control
3. Wu Ding-greatest Shang King
4. Fu Hao-although a woman, she was the greatest Shang General
5. Qin Shih Huang Ti-first emperor of China, unified China


5 Important Terms:
1. Barbarians-foreigners who couldn't speak Chinese
2. Loess-fine yellow soil
3. Terra Cotta Army-guard Shi Haungdis tomb
4. Leveling-storage of surplus crops
5. Analects-teachings and sayings of Confucius, collected by his students


Ancient China on Dipity.